Animal-trap



'(No Model.)

, G. U. HALL.

ANIMAL TRAP. No. 580,861. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT -EEICE GARNETT U. HALL, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,861, dated April20, 1897.

` Application filed January 2l, 1897. Serial No. 620,064. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, GARNETT U. IIALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed, drawings,making 'a part of this specification, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon.

The present invention has reference to that class of traps in which isemployed a springactuated jaw in form of a loop or skeleton frameadapted to snap down upon the animals neck or body; and the objectthereof is to improve the trap of the above-mentioned character, wherebya more perfect acting of the jaw is secured, and one that will possessstrength and durability and that can be man ufaetured at a comparativelysmall cost.

The invention therefore consists in a trap constructed substantially asshown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of an animal-trapconstructed in accordance with my invention, showing the jaw in a setposition in full lines and the position it will assume in dotted linesprevious to being set. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section thereof;Fig. 3, a detail view in perspective of the jaw.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the base or platform of thetrap, which may be constructed of Wood or any other preferred material,such as metal, and may be of rectangular or other shape, as founddesirable.

The jawB is in the form of a skeleton frame, which has straight sides incontradistinction to a loop and is formed of a single piece of metal, asshown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The jawhas fiat sides,which renders it more effective when sprung down upon the animal thanwere it formed of round wire.

The rear portion of the jaw B has an offset a to strengthen that portionthat is hinged to the base or platform A, so that a strong spring can beused to actuate the jaw.

The jaw B may be hinged to the base or platform A by'means of thestaples Zi, or any other well-known means may be resorted to that willinsure the perfect swinging of the jaw. The rear portion of the jaw orthe oli'- set a thereof is formed with a curved tongue c, to which oneend of a flat coiled spring C is rivet-ed or otherwise connected, theopposite end of the spring being secured to the under side of the baseor platform A, a shank dupon the spring being provided for this purpose.The shank d enables the connection to the under side of the base orplatform to be made some distance from the coil of the spring, thusgiving greater flexibility to the spring and rendering it more perfectin its operation, the coil being located in a slot e, extending throughthe base or platform.

The baittrigger D extends through a slot f in the base or platform andhas a bearing extension g, through which the pivot-pin 7L extends andagainst which the free end of a spring E bears to press in an upwarddirection against the trigger, so as to retain it in engagement with thejaw B when the trap is set. This trigger is provided with a shank fi,which terminates in a bait-plate F, having a hole 7c for convenience ofattaching the bait to the plate. A guide-pin Z is secured to the upperside of the base or platform A and extends up through a hole in theplate F and has a head 'm to form a stop to the plate and `prevent itfrom being disengaged from the pin. This guide-pin is slightly curved toadapt it to the slight. curved motion of the bait-plate, said guide-pinpreventing anylateral strain upon the shank t', and also holdingthebait-trigger D on a true line, so that the trap will be easy insetting. The trigger has an inclined face n., so that when the jaw isbrought over in contact therewith it will automaticall y engage thetrigger and the trap thus set, as shown in Fig. l of the'drawings.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An animal-trap consisting of a suitable base or platform, a pivotedbait-trigger, a pivoted jaw in the form f a skeleton frame having flatsides and an oset at its'rear end having a curved tongue, and a coiledspring having its ends connected respectively to the IOO tongue and theunderside of the base or plzttform, substantially as and for the purposespeeied.

2. An animaLtrap consisting of a suitable 5 base or platform, a pivotedjaw in the form of a skeleton frame having four straight sides and acurved tongue at its rear, a Coil-spring having its ends Connectedrespectively tothe tongue and under side of the base or platform,

1o apivoted bait-trigger having shank and baitplate, and aheadedguide-pin therefor, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

GARNETT U. HALL.

NVituesses:

FRANK W. LATIMER, G. RAY HALL.

